Three names, three meanings
Great Britain
England, Scotland and Wales.
The United Kingdom
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The British Isles
A geographical term for Great Britain, Ireland and the smaller islands around them. It is not a country, and the Republic of Ireland is an independent state.
Classic test question: "Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain." The answer is false. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not Great Britain.
Places linked to the UK but not part of it
| Crown dependencies | British overseas territories | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | The Channel Islands, the Isle of Man | St Helena, the Falkland Islands |
| Part of the UK? | No | No |
| Government | Their own governments | Linked to the UK |
The Channel Islands lie close to the coast of France. The Isle of Man is in the Irish Sea.
Where is the UK?
The UK is in the north west of Europe. Its capital is London. The other capitals are Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
How the countries came together
- Henry VIII's reign: Wales is formally united with England.
- 1707: the Act of Union joins England and Wales with Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain.
- 1801: Ireland is united with Great Britain, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- 1922: Ireland splits in two. Northern Ireland stays in the UK.
Common questions
Is Northern Ireland part of Great Britain?
No. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but Great Britain means only England, Scotland and Wales.
Is the Isle of Man part of the UK?
No. The Isle of Man is a Crown dependency with its own government. It is linked to the UK but not part of it.
Are the Falkland Islands part of the UK?
No. They are a British overseas territory, linked to the UK but not part of it.